Community Meeting #5 (October): Draft Plan
On Saturday, October 3, residents, community members, partners, and public officials gathered for a meaningful day of celebration and neighborhood stewardship.
The event brought together the Western Avenue Greenway Bus Shelter Celebration, the Bicentennial Bluffs Neighborhood Association Fall Neighborhood Cleanup, and Community Meeting #5 as part of the ongoing Bicentennial Bluffs Choice Neighborhood planning process.
The sunny morning began at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, where participants registered for the neighborhood cleanup, received supplies and equipment provided by the Bicentennial Bluffs Neighborhood Association, and gathered to enjoy coffee and donuts before heading to the Western Avenue Greenway.
Residents and community members were joined by representatives from the City of Joliet, Housing Authority of Joliet, and Pace Bus for the celebration of the long-awaited new bus shelter.
The community gathered at the new bus shelter along Western Avenue near Broadway Street, adjacent to the Western Avenue Greenway and the site of the Early Action Project.
Public officials, project partners, and neighborhood representatives shared remarks recognizing the installation of the bus shelter as an important milestone in community stewardship that responds to a long-standing neighborhood need and will provide a safer, more comfortable, and more accessible environment for public transit users, including residents with mobility limitations and disabilities.
The celebration marked a visible step forward for the neighborhood and demonstrated how community priorities can translate into tangible improvements.
Following the bus shelter celebration, participants spread throughout the neighborhood for the Fall Bicentennial Bluffs Neighborhood Cleanup.
Residents, volunteers, community partners, and local organizations worked together throughout the morning, reinforcing a tradition that continues to strengthen the sense of belonging and pride of the Bicentennial Bluffs Neighborhood residents.
After the cleanup, more than 140 participants returned to St. Peter’s Lutheran Church to share pizza, take a commemorative group photo, and continue the conversation through Community Meeting #5.
The meeting focused on reviewing the Draft Transformation Plan goals, strategies, and projects across the three Choice Neighborhood elements: People, Housing, and Neighborhood, while also providing an update on the Early Action Project.
The engagement materials and feedback prompts invited residents to identify priority projects and strategies, share additional insights, and suggest potential partners and resources that could support implementation.
Neighborhood
Residents emphasized the need for stronger commercial corridors, support for local businesses, improved parks and public spaces, affordable housing, transportation access, and healthy food as priorities with the greatest potential impact.
For implementation, participants highlighted the need to build partnerships across residents, nonprofits, churches, schools, businesses, and public agencies
Housing
Residents emphasized the need for affordable housing, rehabilitation of existing homes, workforce housing, neighborhood redevelopment, and access to parks, walking spaces, and the river as priorities with the greatest potential impact.
For implementation, participants highlighted grants, community and state support, Tiny Home resources, and broader community involvement, along with trusted partners such as realtors, investors, churches, Will County, and local residents.
People
Residents prioritized expanding opportunities across all backgrounds, improved access to mental health services, healthier food options, and stronger pathways to employment and community participation.
For implementation, participants highlighted the role of schools and parent engagement, business sponsorships, transportation support, and partnerships with the YMCA, employers, residents, and other community organizations.
This feedback will help move the Transformation Plan by informing the implementation strategy for the Final Transformation Plan and identifying the partnerships needed to advance community priorities.
A big shoutout to the St. Peter's Lutheran Church staff, the Bicentennial Bluffs Neighborhood Association, our Community Ambassadors, and everyone who collaborated with enthusiasm on this event. Our last Community Meeting is scheduled for March of 2027. We hope you join us to celebrate and see how far we have come together!
